The True Espresso: Top 3 Countries that Brew It Best

Every morning, we wake up to the smell of roasted coffee beans. It starts our day and refreshes our mind. But what if you knew that there’s better coffee out there? That it is actually greener on the other side?

Giorgio Milos, the master barista at Italy’s illy, visited New York City and was disappointed by the espresso he received. It wasn’t fresh, it wasn’t tasty, and it wasn’t an espresso. He wrote that “what is called espresso here sometimes really isn’t espresso.” According to him, some baristas simply haven’t learned to walk before they’ve run with their espresso recipes.

So, taking Milos’ critique, here’s a list of countries that have the best espressos for any coffee lover that simply wants to see the grass on the other side.

Of course, we’ll start with Milos’ home country. Coffee is part of the culture in Italy and it’s extremely rare to find someone who doesn’t enjoy a cup at least five times a day. So, naturally it’s the best place to find an authentic espresso. The espresso in Italy uses robusta beans and has an ashy charred burnt taste. However, when you’re in Italy, don’t say the word “espresso”. It’s not an everyday word in Italy and instead an espresso is known as un caffè.

Although it may not be the first place you think of when you think espresso, it is an extremely important part of the country’s culture and history. Some of Vienna’s coffee houses were even listed by UNESCO in 2011 as Intangible Heritage. The city also hosted the World Barista Championships in 2012, and ever since then has improved the quality of their espresso. If you take a trip to Vienna, be sure to visit Café Central, which is known as being the most beautiful cafe in the world.

Coffee has always been at the center of life in Singapore. However, they’ve only recently embraced modern espresso technology. This newness to the espresso scene has allowed the country to experiment with their espresso and create beautiful masterpieces. The espressos in Singapore are simply legendary. When taking a trip to the country, try to visit Nylon Coffee Roasters, Ronin, or Symmetry to get a taste of what you’ve been missing.

If you’re looking for a coffee adventure, any one of these countries will give provide you with the cream of the crop. But be warned – the grass truly is greener on the other side.